From a reading of Jane Austen's short stories what do we learn about women's lives in the late eighteenth century?

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From a reading of Jane Austen’s short stories what do we learn about women’s lives in the late eighteenth century?

Jane Austen’s collection of short stories, “Love & Friendship”, give a developed insight into the lives of women of the “genteel” society in the late eighteenth century. The stories, written in epistolary describe the characteristics and mannerisms that were true to women of this particular time period. The letters, exchanged between friends, illustrate the main aspects of life familiar to Jane Austen and women of a similar class to herself. She incorporates her personal opinion into the stories by demonstrating techniques such as tactful humour and undisputed irony of the lifestyle that surrounded her, day after day; thus provoking her to use satire and exaggeration to portray the lives of women as shallow, vein and pre occupied by insignificant priorities.  

It is evident that marriage is a vitally important and significant part of women’s lives in the late eighteenth century to the point of being almost obsessive. Mary displays her view early on in the first letter by writing, “I hardly know how to value it enough”. Marriage is rarely the result of a loving relationship but because women of this era are solely dependant on their husbands and fathers; therefore their lives are forced to revolve around marriage. This is simply because a husband will provide money, status and freedom. Money is a very important aspect in a marriage, and many women such as Mary Stanhope make no effort to conceal this, as her opinion, “What’s the use of great Jointure if Men live forever?” shows no sign of feelings or affection towards the principles of marriage; and considers its main purpose to be finding financial security.

Mary’s view of the purpose of marriage also becomes apparent at her meeting with Mr Watts. When she announces that she is “to have a new carriage, a new saddle horse, a suit of fine lace and an infinite number of jewels”, to name a few of the possessions that she expects from marrying into this relationship, which clearly has no evidence of love or even friendship

 Even married women are constantly aware of the importance of money in a marriage, for example Louise Burton has been bought up to understand that money is the main importance in marriage and was “taught to disguise her real disposition, under the appearance of his insinuating sweetness by a father who knew” that marriage was her only chance of survival. Therefore it came as no real surprise to Margaret when Louisa ran off and left her brother “in company with Danvers”, in the hope of raising her status and riches.

A women’s social in the late eighteenth century was segregated by marriage and, therefore marriage was important to achieve this status, there was no other suitable option for women of this time. Freedom is another important component of marriage. Before a woman marries they are forbidden to go out by themselves, in fact rarely go out at all; and when they do they must be escorted by parents, “ We might meet in London, were my father disposed to carry me there” would be the usual context of a conversation between two young unmarried ladies arranging to meet. Only when they are coming out will they begin to go out and meet people for the first time, but even then they must be accompanied by a chaperone and must not do too much at one, as in the first of a collection letters the mother begins to worry about her daughters and “can only dread their health.” This comes across as quite pathetic as the most strenuous activity involved is to drink tea; this implies that young, unmarried women are weak and must be protected until they are married. Only then are they allowed to venture out into the real world and become chaperones themselves which Mary seems particularly enthusiastic about when she declares to Miss Dutton, “If Mrs Dutton should not go to it, I hope you will let me chaperone you; I shall certainly take Sophy and Georgiana.”

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Looking at evidence from the stories, marriage is portrayed as a business contract rather than a seal of love and trust, particularly in Mr Watts’s case as shown in the way he goes about his proposal to Mary asking if she “will condescend to marry (him) or not.”

The process of getting a husband is depicted as a competition, an achievement according to Mary Stanhope, “It will be such a triumph to be married before Sophy, Georgiana and the Dutton’s,” and she, “know(s) the Dutton’s will envy (her).” The reader is given the impression that the aim of ...

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